When Culture Shapes Politics: The Power of Barbie Cultural expressions like films, music, and art often have a deeper influence than we think.
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-10-03
This guide breaks down the complex relationship of **when culture shapes politics**, using the 2023 Barbie movie as a detailed case study. You will learn how to move beyond simple summary to deliver a nuanced analysis of cultural influence, securing a top grade on your exam.
Read the material below.
Write a text in which you discuss how cultural expressions may influence the political agenda. Use examples from the material below in your answer. You may also use other examples from the English-speaking world in your answer.
Text A
Text B
After seeing the Barbie movie, Ginger Gaetz, the wife of Congressman Matt Gaetz of the Republican party, posted a picture of herself and her husband on the pink carpet and tweeted:
"The Barbie I grew up with was a representation of limitless possibilities, embracing diverse careers and feminine empowerment. The 2023 Barbie movie, unfortunately, neglects to address any notion of faith or family, and tries to normalize the idea that men and women can’t collaborate positively (yuck).” (Excerpt from tweet)
Text C
That's why I'm taking action to help even more Michiganders make it in Michigan. We’re investing in every corner of our state and creating opportunities, so every Barbie (and Ken!) can live their dream life.✨”
When Culture Shapes Politics: The Power of Barbie
Cultural expressions like films, music, and art often have a deeper influence than we think. As American journalist Andrew Breitbart once said, “Politics is downstream from culture.” This means that the ideas, values, and trends that shape our culture eventually find their way into political debates and agendas. A striking example of this is the political response to the 2023 Barbie movie.
The film, which was widely anticipated for its feminist and satirical approach, sparked contrasting political reactions. Ginger Gaetz, wife of Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, criticized the film for what she saw as a lack of traditional values. In her tweet, she wrote that while Barbie used to represent “limitless possibilities”, the new film “tries to normalize the idea that men and women can’t collaborate positively.” Her reaction shows how cultural products can trigger political responses, especially when they touch on sensitive topics like gender roles, family, or faith.
In contrast, Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer embraced the movie's message. She posted an image of a Barbie doll at a podium and used it to promote her own political agenda, writing that “every Barbie (and Ken!) can live their dream life” thanks to her economic policies. This clever use of a cultural reference helped her connect with a broader audience and frame her policies in a fun, relatable way.
These examples demonstrate how a cultural phenomenon like Barbie can become a battleground for political messaging. Politicians from both sides used the movie to support their existing beliefs and appeal to their followers. While the Gaetz family viewed the movie as a threat to traditional values, Whitmer saw it as an opportunity to promote empowerment and inclusion.
More broadly, cultural expressions have long influenced political debates. From the civil rights anthems of the 1960s to modern shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, which has been used in protests for women’s rights, culture often shapes how people see the world—and how they vote. In English-speaking countries, films, books, and celebrities regularly influence public discourse and policy. When a movie like Barbie becomes a cultural event, it naturally becomes part of the political conversation too.
In conclusion, culture and politics are deeply connected. Cultural expressions can challenge values, inspire change, or reinforce ideologies. Whether through criticism or celebration, politicians recognize the power of culture to reach people emotionally—and they use it to shape political agendas.
Questions like this one, often appearing as Task 3A on Norwegian exams, test your ability to analyse, discuss, and synthesise information from various sources. The examiner is not just checking if you understood the texts; they are assessing your ability to use them as evidence in a structured argument. This task requires you to connect a specific cultural event (the Barbie movie) to a broader concept (the influence of culture on politics). Success depends on demonstrating an understanding of social commentary and showing how cultural products can become political tools. This skill is crucial for analysing everything from protest songs to political cartoons, a common feature in English subject exams that explore how political leaders from English-speaking countries communicate their messages.
To analyse how culture shapes politics, you need a precise vocabulary. Understanding these concepts will elevate your discussion from a simple summary to a sophisticated analysis.
| Concept | Definition | Example in Context |
|---|---|---|
| Culture Wars | Conflicts between social groups with opposing ideologies, values, and lifestyles, often played out in the public sphere. | The Barbie movie became a flashpoint in the culture wars. Ginger Gaetz's critique positions the film as part of a "woke" agenda attacking traditional family values, while Gretchen Whitmer's support aligns it with progressive ideals of empowerment. |
| Soft Power | A term coined by Joseph Nye, it refers to the ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion (e.g., culture, values, foreign policy) rather than coercion or payment ("hard power"). | The global success of Hollywood films like Barbie is an example of American soft power. The film exports ideas about feminism, consumerism, and individualism, which can subtly shape perceptions of the US and its values worldwide. |
| Political Appropriation | The act of a political actor or group adopting a cultural symbol, idea, or event for their own strategic purposes. | Governor Whitmer's Instagram post is a clear example of political appropriation. She borrows the popularity and positive associations of Barbie to brand her economic policies as modern, empowering, and relatable. |
| Ideological Critique | An analysis that exposes the underlying political or social beliefs (ideology) embedded within a cultural product. | Ginger Gaetz performs an ideological critique from a conservative standpoint. She argues that the film's ideology is hostile to "faith or family" and promotes a negative view of male-female relationships, thus challenging its cultural legitimacy. |
Many students struggle to move from describing the sources to analysing them. Here are three common traps and how to avoid them. …